Seema Kumar is the Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, an organization on a mission to positively impact human health and support entrepreneurs and innovators to develop healthcare solutions that will improve the lives of people around the world. She is a member of the Communications Leadership Council at Johnson & Johnson and works closely with the company’s Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman of Pharmaceuticals. Before taking on the role of VP of Innovation, Global Health, and Policy Communications, Seema served as the VP of Global R&D Communications at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. She holds a Master’s degree in Science Journalism from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, and a graduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Stella Maris College in Madras, India.
Seema joins me today to share her passion for science, technology, and female empowerment. We discuss the continuous rise of women interested in S.T.E.M projects, initiatives, and careers and why Seema believes the current issue is retaining women in S.T.E.M. industries. We discuss the importance of seeing other women at the highest levels of leadership and how it can encourage more women to step out of their comfort zone to climb the corporate ladder. We also discuss the crux of innovation in the corporate world and how the idea for SEEMA Magazine came to fruition.
When men make space for women and champion them and allow them to lead—it makes a big difference.
Today on When She Founded:
- Seema’s childhood upbringing and how it inspired her passion for science, technology, and female empowerment
- The rise of the representation of women in S.T.E.M and the current issues Seema believes S.T.E.M industries face
- Seema’s perspective on why we see a gap of women being represented at the highest levels of leadership
- The importance of role models and mentorship
- Why Seema believes it’s critical for men to encourage and champion women to lead
- The importance of drive, passion, purpose, diversity, and authenticity
- Understanding when insecurities and vulnerabilities are signs of strength
- The crux of innovation
- The motivation behind launching SEEMA Magazine
- The multiplier effect of increasing the visibility of women